Vegetarians in Paradise
Ask Aunt Nettie

We're delighted to share our Aunt Nettie with you. She's agreed to answer any questions you might ask about vegetarian food, its preparation, and even clean-up tips. But we have to prepare you. She just might want to come right over to your house and help you fix dinner.

To send any questions to Ask Aunt Nettie, .



Dear Aunt Nettie

I appreciate you taking the time to share some idea's with me. I have a sister who is just turning 50 years young, she has a severe problem with irritable bowel syndrome that includes constipation and bloating to the point that at times we are concerned for her life. All the doctors can say is "more fiber" all I can say to this is BS.

I will agree that we should eat ample amounts of fiber. I was just told by a friend that she drinks flaxseed tea. That is what brought me to your site. Thanks for the recipe. Do you have any other idea's that may help this problem?

Respectfully, Nothings worked yet,

Gary


Howdy there, Gary,

I shure will try ta help yer sister. Here's what's in my mind 'bout her irritable bowel problem.

Yer sister jes might be sufferin' from puttin' the wrong things inter her body. Fer instance, if she is drinkin' milk or eatin' dairy products, that very well could be a big problem fer people with delicate digestive systems. Best way ta find out is ta eliminate everthing that has milk products in it fer a week or two an' see if it helps. If that's the problem, she should ferget about milk ferever an' read food labels like they was the bible.

It's possible she jes might be allergic ta wheat or corn. That kin give folks with irritable bowel syndrome some bloatin' an' constipation problems. The best way ta find out is ta take the wheat or corn out o' the diet fer a couple weeks. Now don't do it the same time you takes the milk outer the diet 'cause then you won't know which thing is causin' the problem. Test the wheat an' corn separately, too.

Food allergies kin be a big challenge ta track down--it could be anythin'. That is, if food allergies is the problem.

If yer sister is not gittin' 'nuff vegetables an' fruits in her diet, that's not good neither. How 'bout whole grains? Is she eatin stuff like oatmeal an' buckwheat an' barley. Them's good fer ya.

Is she drinkin' plenty o' water? If'n folks eat lots o' solid foods an' don't drink 'nuff water, why that could cause some backin' up in them pipes.

Ta help git her started relievin' that constipation, she jes might want to take some Metamucil fer a few days ta git some relief an' git things movin' again. She'll feel lots better.

Well, darlin', I hope I been able ta offer some ideas that jes might comfort yer sister. Yer awful nice to be conserned fer her health an' well bein'.

Yer ever lovin' Aunt Nettie


If You Haven't Met Aunt Nettie. . .


Our Aunt Nettie has a head like a hard disk. It's filled with gigabytes of information about food and cooking. And she's just itchin' to share her learnin' with city folk who live in mortal fear of the stovetop.

Aunt Nettie grew up on the farm. She did not eat out of a can or reach into the freezer. There was no microwave to pop her food into. Everything she made was from scratch. All the food she ate was natural, without pesticides. It was grown right there on the family farm, and she had to cook to survive. At eighty-three years young she still leaps and bounds around the kitchen and can shake, rattle, and roll those pots and pans with the best of them.

Nowadays, Aunt Nettie just shakes her head and complains, "Nobody cooks anymore. They have no idea about puttin' a meal together." She's on a mission. She wants to help those younguns eat better so they can grow up healthy like her own eight kids.



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Vegetarians in Paradise